The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-01-14
JOS LUCK.
1t Came to Him in the Shape of a Great
Railroad Wash-Out.

did We hear bout the cyclone?
Scarcely shanty left standing down
in Morville. People killed, an them
who amt killed fairly cleaned out The
wind S JUS broke up every thing, an
left them poor as Jobs turkey" The
speaker was long-haired, cadaverous
looking individual, who spit tobacco
juice about freely as he delivered HIM
self of the foregoing statement A mot
ley group had gathered around the
huge stove, for although raw wind
was blowing outside, the store door
was left Hospitality open to entice GUS
| toners.
Eyes, hard lines" replied the court
eous proprietor; land the cyclone came
within five miles of us, twill be our
turn next. Contributions will be taken
in all the churches tomorrow for the
sufferers.
"Wall, people ought to perfect their
selves" continued the first speaker
"Now I've dug big hole in the groun',
sort of vault like, We know, an tell
my folks if worst comes to the worst,
we can JUS pile in there"
$50 you have prepared a city of
refuge; good idea," was the reply;
"yet we may escape, although this part
of the South seems to be the section
just now chosen for such operations"
Better all go home an dig holes in
the groun','' was the countryman's adj
vice as he stalked out of the store
Among the interested listeners was
Jo,, a little colored boy. He had battled
with storms, and knew by actual ex-
perience that high wind was not a
force to be despised. ''Let the siklone
come" he chuckled, ''Ts prepared.
faint cherry un dat owns a gran I'M
dergroun' state. Take a mighty high
wind to upset my pallis. I can lay
dere as snug as top, with never fear
dat my roof will sail off ober my head
Lor! but don't the wind blow. 1
b'lieve siklone's comm sure nuffr'
The wind continued to blow, gaining
in force as the day waned, and by night
the rain fell in torrents. The streets
were nearly deserted, with here and
there traveller who struggled YEARLY
against the storm. Notwithstanding
JOS high opinion of the good points of
his establishment, hungry and cold he
still wandered restlessly about, loath
to take possession of his snug quarters.
''It's bad luck I've had to-day" he
said; eyes, COMPOUNDED bad luck! l
thought for sure Jim would pay me
dat nickel, he's a po' trifiin' chap. An
Mr.. Curtis, pears like he thinks rs
rich, reckon he knows | live in a pallis''
and 10 laughed bitterly. ''No mat
ter" he continued more cheerfully,
"'tain't the first time I've turned in
supperless." And So footsore, and with
very faint feeling in the region of the
stomach, the forlorn little figure
trudged bravely on in the darkness to-
ward his cave-like berth on the side of a
hill not far from the railroad. Here 10
had taken possession of a small natural
cavern, and set up housekeeping. His
household goods consisted of few
pieces of broken crockery, and frag-
ment of a quilt. mighty good of
Dinah to give me this 'ere," soliloquized
10, as he wrapped the old quilt closely
about him; reckon I'll pay her call
in the mornin', bite of her cold yittles
would go right good. wonder if it's
warm up dere where mother went! No
night, no hunger, no cold, shouldn't
min trying it my own self. But poor
JOS troubles were soon forgotten in a
dreamless sleep.
He awoke toward morning in speech
| less terror. 1t seemed as if the earth
underneath him was shaken, there was
a sound as if heavy body had fallen,
then all was silence. "Was it the
siklone?" he thought. Gradually he
gathered courage and his scattered
wits. 'Tll go out and 'vestigate," he
said, although shaking with fear.
"Jerushyr' he cried. The frequent
and violent rains had taken effect.
Looking down toward the railroad
track, he saw, in the dim light, that a
| portion of the embankment underneath
it had given away. "Jerushy" he re-
peated, ga wash out, an it's mos time
for the early train AS he slept in his
clothes, he could dispense with the
little ceremony of dressing, and with
no thought of the pelting storm, he
rushed breathless and headlong to the
station. The official there could scarce
| " credit JOS words, but was forced to
believe the evidences of his own senses,
and the train was signaled and stopped
ere it reached the fatal break. The
| washout created a profound sensation
| in the little town, and the narrow es-
cape of the train was nine days
| wonder.
When Monday morning came, the
usual number of loafers were gathered
about the stove in the corner grocery,
and our friend, the lank cOuntryman,
was engaged in his favorite occupation
of splitting tobacco juice, while he kept
up an animated discussion on the sub
iect of cyclones and washouts.
"And We say that niger 10 was the
fust to discover it and give the alarm?
Wall, the boy ought to be rewarded"
That's so," was the reply. Hes
bright, faithful chap, but he's lived
from hand to mouth ever since his
mother died; run of elrands for Curtis,
mostly, an he's been kind of-careless
bout the boy. But he's all alive now,
Curtis, l mean; an he's going to
send him to school, an let him
make something if he will. The boys
never had half chance. There he is
this blessed minute making rush
toward the door. ''Here, 10, hold on a
second, we want to shake hands with
you"
10 edged in bashfully. the same 10,
but looking so bright and happy A
full stomach and host of friends made
different world to the brave little
colored waif.
- o,,o,1t n oo,,o